23|02|2012

Looop, the mail order site specialising in independent
Norwegian music, has closed. Looop ran mail order and distribution
services for artists and labels including Jazkamer, Lasse Marhaug,
Maja Ratkje, Supersilent and others (full list can be accessed via
the Internet Archive here).

Looop says the cause for the close is the Norwegian
postal service, which has increased prices and become more complex,
meaning overseas shipping is now too expensive, and pre-calculating
shipping costs is impossible. A statement on the Looop site reads:
"The Norwegian postal service has increased the postage rates
considerably yet again, making it too expensive for people outside
Norway to order from us. They make up the majority of our
customers… To our customers, artists, labels and friends: Thank you
very much for your support! To the Norwegian postal service:
FOAD."

On the cover: Holly Herndon – the US sound artist and laptop auteur spreads the faith of the liberating potential of technology. A Primer on the maverick composer Moondog, Daniel Spicer on Brighton's outsider poets and musicians, Lightning Bolt take The Wire's Invisible Jukebox test, Isnaj Dui, Radiophrenia, Jlin and much more. Plus: our latest 20 track CD, free to all readers with The Wire.